AN: aintweproud recently read this book and requested in the comments that I write something in which all members of the Kelly family are happy and alive. This is not that. It is however insanely long and incredibly painful so brace yourselves.
Katherine Kelly was pregnant with she and Jack's first child, and the two of them couldn't be more excited. She was five months along and the nursery had already been painted, courtesy of Jack, and they had names picked out - Margaret for a girl and James for a boy. Jack had started asking for extra work at The World, and Katherine was writing as much as she could before she couldn't anymore.
Of course, Jack wasn't too thrilled about the idea of his wife overexerting herself, and wasn't afraid to tell her about this. And Katherine was not afraid to disagree with him.
"I'm just saying Ace, the doctor said that too much strenuous activity isn't good - "
"This is not strenuous activity, Jack."
"So maybe you should take a break, get some rest."
"I'm not tired, I don't need rest."
"You're pregnant, you always need rest."
"Jack."
"Katherine."
This argument ended with the two of them glaring at each other (though neither of them were really too upset) until one of them backed down. That one ended up being Jack.
"Fine, fine." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Finish the article, then rest, please?"
Katherine raised an eyebrow. "Giving up so easily? I'm shocked."
"I ain't giving up, it's a compromise."
"Mhm."
He grinned. "Love you."
"Love you too." She reached up to give him a quick kiss on the lips before waving him away. "Now leave me alone, please?"
"You know where to find me if you need me." Jack said, talking about the desk he did some of his work from.
"I do." Katherine agreed, her attention already somewhat back on her article.
"And don't work too much longer, yeah? Remember, you - "
"Jack!"
"I'm going, I'm going."
As he retreated through the doorway, they both had a smile on their lips.
An hour and a drawing and a half later, Jack realized that he hadn't heard anything from Katherine since their last conversation, which was usually cause for concern. So, he set his drawing to the side and made his way back out into the kitchen where Katherine had been working, to find her asleep with her head resting next to her typewriter, pillowed by her arm.
Jack smirked slightly, enjoying the satisfying feeling of knowing that he'd been right - it seemed like she was always tired, and he noticed it more than she did. He watched her for a moment, mentally debating whether or not to wake her up so that she could resume her nap in a different place, but decided against it. He knew how difficult it was for her to get comfortable these days, and if she was relaxed enough to sleep on the table, it was probably best to just let her be.
He pressed a light kiss to the top of her head before returning to his work.
oOo
Katherine woke up confused, and with a pounding headache. Her neck and back were stiff and she didn't know why, until she opened her eyes and discovered that she wasn't in bed, but seated at the kitchen table. She blinked in an attempt to clear her brain of the fog sleep had brought upon her, and slowly lifted her head off the table.
